Rotation 11.01.19
Recovery is the greatest moment for new music…
Says me who was sick the latter half of this week, but I’ve recovered. I have also listened to all the new music out this week and I think a couple of weeks ago on the Youtube channel I was like maybe music is slowing down…I fully lied. Every week I think I’m going to get less, yet here we are. Anyway, let’s get into it, here is everything you need to get into this week’s new music.
Featured Albums:
KIWANUKA - Michael Kiwanuka
KIWANUKA was on repeat from when it dropped at midnight on the 1st until about midday the 2nd. I wish I was kidding. I went to sleep in a cold syrup infused slumber to this album and I was not mad at it. It is an album that tells a story from start to finish. Michael Kiwanuka’s voice and storytelling really shine on his third studio album that seems to focus more on the state of the world and who he is in it. With questions about his existence to people around him and God both referenced on this album, it feels like Kiwanuka went on a journey to make this album, and it’s one that many of us are on as well. We are figuring out how we fit into this world with emotions, beliefs, and values, but at times it doesn’t feel like those things are practical. This album speaks to that. He continued to work with both producers Danger Mouse and Inflo for this record as well. The stand out tracks for this album are: “You Aint the Problem,” “I’ve been Dazed,” “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love),” “Final Days,” “Solid Ground,” and “Light.”
Surfacing - R.LUM.R
We are going to stay on trend with the deep feeling albums and go to the debut album of R.LUM.R, Surfacing. This is an album that centers around the theme of mental health, specifically with men. It addresses many of the thoughts that young men may think and may not say. It is honest, it is vulnerable, but I will say it took me a second to get into. At first, listen I felt like this was just too emotional in a way I couldn’t connect to it, but then I replayed it and it clicked because that was the point. It was offputting because how often do we hear a man sing lyrics like “Take and take, don't complain, you're not hurting/Tell me more different Train your brain, love the pain over your needs/'Til there is no difference (No difference)/(Boys should never cry)”? Never, and that’s not how it should be. I applaud this work in is content more than its execution not that it sounds bad but that it exposed me to a new set of feelings. The stand out tracks are: “How This Feels,” “Give Me A Reason,” “Middle Of The Night,” “Boys Should Never Cry,” and “What If I (Still Feel).”
Athena - Sudan Archives
Sudan Archives is a violinist and vocalist out of LA, and I actually heard her song “Confession” first on Beats 1 radio early in September and fell in love with her sound. Athena is her debut album following her EP Sink. She leans toward alternative R&B, with a more ethereal sound with heavy strings, bass, and synth. The standout tracks on this album are: “Did You Know,” “Confessions,” “Iceland Moss,” “Coming Up,” “Glorious,” and “Limitless.”
Revenge Is Sweet - Krept & Konan
Revenge is Sweet is the newest album but the grime duo Krept & Konan, and honestly, I really love this album. It’s the perfect mix of all the things I expect from a grime album: real life, vulnerability, cockiness, and a little ratchetness. The way the story starts and ends are very different starting out swinging with “Goat Level” a track about demanding respect to ending with probably my favorite song on the album “Broski,” a song dedicated to the loss of loved ones and mental health, you feel like you are on a ride that whole album. There are quite a few solid features on this Headie One, K-Trap, D-Block Europe, Ling Hussle, MoStack, Spice, Tory Lanez, WizKid, Stormzy, and the late Cadet. This is one that will be in heavy rotation.
Featured EP:
FEET OF CLAY - Earl Sweatshirt
FEET OF CLAY is an allusion to the end times in the Bible, it’s also the latest project/EP by Earl Sweatshirt. it’s good. It’s weird. It’s at points, just sounds or clips of other types of media. It’s deeper than it sounds. It’s Earl Sweatshirt. Give it more than one spin to get it. The stand out tracks to me are “4N” featuring Mach-Hommy, “EL TORO COMBO MEAL” featuring Mavi, and “TISK TISK/COOKIES.”
Featured Singles:
Sane - Greentea Peng
Toxic - ANGELO
Uriah’s Cry - SAM DOTIA
Breathe - UMI
Guns in the Distance (Acoustic) - Maverick Sabre
Write It Down - Hamzaa
Cake - IYAMAH
Every Void - April + VISTA
Technicolour - FARR
Funeral - Miguel
Where The Wild Things - Labrinth
Stainless - The Game featuring Anderson.Paak
Kiss and Tell - AJ Tracey & Skepta
Sheet Music - Episode 02 - Vince Staples
No Cryin - dvsn featuring Future
Cool Off the Rain - VanJess featuring Ari Lennox
Think of Me - Alex Isley featuring Jack Dine
Frio - Omar Apollo
Perfect Peace - Tauren Wells
Change - Propaganda featuring Derek Minor and Daniella Mason
The Waiting Line - Jaz Karis
It Might Be Time - Tame Impala
Hollyhood - Buddy featuring Kent Jamz
I Want You Around Remix - Snoh Aalegra featuring 6lack
Featured Show:
New segment alert!!! I used to go to shows all the time and now the concerts a little bit more spread apart because my body doesn't bounce back like it used to. But yesterday I went to see an up and coming artist Shyamala, and when I say this girl and her band are phenomenal, I mean it. Shyamala plays the violin, sings, directs her band and puts out all her music on her own. It’s insane! There was so much soul in her voice the vibe was just right for a small and very intimate show at the Bowery Electric. If you haven’t heard of her please go check out her new EP Signal that came out this summer.
